In the meeting of the so-called Volksraad in the Dutch East Indies was asked if the government knew that the cable layer Zuiderkruis was fitted out as an auxiliary cruiser as requested by the naval staff and why the Volksraad was not informed. The answers were simply, yes the government knew of the fitting out and no it was a defence affair and so not to be generally known.
Note
1. The Volksraad was in 1916 by law established although her members were not earlier appointed as in 1918. They were each 4 years partly chosen and partly appointed by the Dutch government. This council just possessed advice right.
